Container for packaging an object

ABSTRACT

For packaging an object, a container having a tube with at least one open end and a removable end cap. The end cap includes a depressed top wall which is cup-shaped and divided into a plurality of resilient segments by slits which intersect at the bottom center of the cup. The resilient segments deflect inwardly of the tube to allow insertion of an object and resiliently return to their original position after the object has passed therethrough to prevent removal of the object.

1451 Aug. 12, 1975 United States Patent 1191 Rigaud 54] CONTAINER FORPACKAGING OBJECT 2,997,788 8/1961 220/42 C 3,060,882 10/1962 Peters eta1... 137/5251 [75] Inventor: Raymond L. Rigaud, Shrub Oak, 3,116,927H1964 kuhlmanmm 3,351,105 11/1967 Di Pema.............. 3,369,666 2/1968Hultgren et 211...... [73 Ass'gnee' '9 Flash Cmpm'atmn whte 3,381,8145/1968 Plains, N.Y.

[22] Filed: July 1973 Primary ExaminerWilliam 1. Price [21] APP] 381,247Assistant ExaminerAllan N. Shoap Attorney, Agent, or F [rm-Davis, Hoxie,Faithfull & Hapgood [57] ABSTRACT For packagingan object, a containerhaving a tube with at least one open end and a removable end cap. Theend cap includes a depressed top wall which is cup-shaped and dividedinto a plurality of resilient segments by slits which intersect at thebottom center 41 3243 2D 6 HO U MMS 48 m% m 7. 1 n 68 4 8&8 n WQW d 5 l5 mm 1 U IF 2 UN 5 55 .1 .11

of the cup. The resilient segments deflect inwardly of the tube to allowinsertion of an object and resiliently return to their original positionafter the object has 206/384 passed therethrough to prevent removal ofthe object,

220/42 A 4 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures [56] References Cited UNITED STATESPATENTS 2,441,642 5/1948 McDaniel 2,576,192 11/1951 Poznik 2,585,6022/1952 Ill It PATL NTEU AUG '1 2 ma FIGB CONTAINER FOR PACKAGING ANOBJECT The present invention relates to containers, and morespecifically to a tubular container having an end cap with deflectablesegments for insertion of an object into the container.

Various tubular containers have been used to package objects such asdrills, reamers, router-bits, ball bearings, and the like. Suchcontainers have generally proven unsatisfactory for mass productionpackaging of such objects because the end caps must be fitted on thecontainer after it is filled. Since the packager may not have automatedequipment for this purpose, the assembly of the end caps on thecontainer requires additional manual labor which increases the cost tothe consumer as well as increasing the assembly time.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a container forpackaging objects which overcomes the deficiencies of the prior artcontainers.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a containercapable of use for mass production packaging of objects.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a closedcontainer having an end cap which allows insertion of an object, butprevents removal of the object until the end cap is removed.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a containerhaving an end cap which allows air to continuously enter the container.

Other objects, aspects and advantages of the present invention will beapparent when the detailed description is considered with the drawing.

Briefly, the container of the present invention includes a tube havingat least one open end with a removable end cap mounted on the open end.The end cap has a depressed top wall which is generally cup shaped anddivided into a plurality of deflectable segments by slits whichintersect at the center of the bottom of the cup. The segments deflectinwardly of the tube to allow insertion of an object and resilientlyreturn to their original position after the object has passedtherethrough to prevent removal of the object. Advantageously, thesegments taper in thickness toward the center of the cap and eachincludes a central radial rib which increases in its amount ofprotrusion or height in proportion to the reduction in thickness of thesegments to maintain a constant thickness of material along the centerof the segments.

The present invention is illustrated in the following drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the container of thepresent invention with parts broken away for clarity;

FIG. 2 is an end view of the container of FIG. 1, showing the end cap;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the container and end cap taken along line33 in FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a segment of the end cap showing thelongitudinal rib.

Referring to FIG. 1, the container includes a tube 12 with end caps 14and 16 mounted on the open ends of the tube 12. The tube 12 has adiameter greater than the diameter of the object to be inserted and ispreferably made of a transparent plastic to reveal the inserted object,e.g., a drill (not shown). The container 10 of the present invention isparticularly applicable to the packaging and storing of elongateobjects, such as drills,

router-bits, reamers, and the like. However, other objects, such as ballbearings, nuts, screws or other small items may be advantageouslypackaged and stored within the container 10.

Referring also to FIGS. 2 and 3, only one end cap 14 will be discussedin detail since the structure and assembly of the other end cap 16 isidentical. The end cap 14 is preferably formed in one piece from moldedplastic and includes a sidewall skirt 24 shaped to slip over the end ofthe tube 12. The sidewall skirt 24 may be slightly flared to facilitatereceipt of the open end of the tube 12 and is retained on the tube 12 byfriction. Advantageously, the sidewall skirt 24 includes ribs 25 to aidin the application of rotational torque to the end cap 14 for removal orremounting of the end cap 14.

The end cap 14 has an inwardly depressed end Wall 26 integrally formedwith the sidewall 24. The depressed end wall 26 is formed in the generalshape of a cup or cone, the bottom or apex 36 of which extends inwardlyof the tube 12. The end wall 26 and the sidewall 24 are spaced apart toprovide an annular groove 30 into which the end of the tube 12 isfrictionally received when the end cap 14 is mounted on the tube 12. Theend cap is frictionally retained on the tube 12, but may be providedwith screw threads or snap beads, as desired.

The end wall 26 is divided into a plurality of deflectable triangularsegments 34 by radial slits 35 which intersect at the central apex 36 ofthe cone. Each segment 34 tapers in thickness toward the apex 36 and'includes a central rib 38 on its outer surface which increases in heightfrom the surface of the segment 34 in direct proportion to the reductionin thickness of the segment 34 to maintain a constant thickness alongthe center of the segment 34. These central ribs 38 serve as feeders toaid in distributing the plastic which forms the segments 34 duringmolding. Further, since the ribs 38 increase in thickness toward theapex 36, they aid in forming the segments 34 into a closed cup shape asthe molded end cap 14 cools'because the thicker ribs 38 shrink more thanthe thinner segments 34. The shrinking of the plastic in the ribs 38tends to pull the segments 34 toward each other into the desired cupshape. Further, the ribs 38 aid in biasing the segments toward closureafter an object has been inserted into the container 10. Thisconstruction of the end cap 14 advantageously provides slits betweensegments 34 and allows air to flow readily through the container 10.Free air flow helps prevent moistureaccumulation during storage of thepackaged object. Air flow can further be encouraged by terminating thesegments 34 short of the center of the depressed end wall 26 to leave acentral aperture.

In assembling the container 10, the end caps 14 and 16 are mounted onthe open ends of the tube 12. Since end caps 10 and 16 and tube 12 areassembled by the container manufacturer rather than by the packager ofthe goods sold in the container, automated assembly machinery can beeconomically employed. The object to be packaged within the assembledcontainer 10 is inserted by the packager through one of the end caps 14or 16 by pushing the object through the deflectable segments 34 of oneof the end caps 14 or 16 and into the tube 12. Once the object isinserted past the segments 34, they resiliently return to their originalposition and prevent the object from escaping from the container 10.Thus, the packager need not remove or replace an end cap to package theobject. To remove the object, the ultimate consumer simply removes oneof the end caps 14 or 16.

The container of the present invention provides for rapid automatic orgravity packaging of objects by simply inserting the object through theend caps 14 or 16 of the closed container 10. There is no requirement tosubsequently cap the container as with prior art structures. There islittle tendency for the packaged object to escape because of the cup orconical shape of the end wall 26 formed by the segments 34 which causesthesegments 34 to wedge together when the packaged object strikes theinterior of the end caps 14 or 16., In effect, the cup or conical shapeof the end caps 14 and 16 causes them to function as a one-way valve.

It should be understood that the container of the present invention mayinclude only a single end cap, allowing the other end of the containerto be closed in any conventional manner as by a solid wall cap, integralend wall, plug, or heat sealed seam.

What is claimed is:

1. A container for packaging an object, comprising:

a tube having at least one open end;

an end cap mounted on the open end of said tube,

said end cap having an end wall in the shape of a cup extending inwardlyof said tube and a sidewall skirt depending from said end wall, saidskirt being shaped to slip over the tube, an annular groove locatedbetween said skirt and said end wall for frictionally receiving the endof said tube, said end wall being divided into a plurality of resilienttriangular segments separated by radial slits which meet in the centerof said end wall, said triangular segments tapering in thickness towardthe center of the end wall and being deflectable inwardly of thecontainer to allow an object to be inserted through the end wall intothe container, said triangular segments being biased to resilientlyreturn to their original position after an object has passed into thecontainer through said cap to prevent escape of the object from thecontainer said triangular segments including a central radial rib whichincreases in height from the surface of the tapered segments in directproportion to the reduction in thickness of the segments to maintain aconstantthickness of material along the radial center portion of saidsegments. 1 2. The container as recited in claim 1 wherein:

said deflectable triangular segments terminate short of the center ofsaid cup to form a central aperture.

3. The container as recited in claim 1 wherein:

said end cap is formed as a single piece from molded plastic.

4. A container for packaging an object, comprising:

a tube having at least one open end;

an end cap mounted on the open end of said tube, said end cap beingformed as a single piece from molded plastic and having an end wall inthe shape of a cup, extending inwardly of said tube, said end wall beingdivided into a plurality of deflectable resilient triangular segments byradial slits, said triangular segments tapering in thickness toward thebottom of the cup and each of said triangular segments including acentral radial rib which increases in height from the surface of saidtriangular segment in direct proportion to the reduction in thickness ofsaid triangular segments to maintain a constant thickness of materialalong the center of said triangular segments, said triangular segmentsbeing deflectable inwardly of the container to allow an object to beinserted through the end wall into the container, said deflectabletriangular segments being biased to resiliently return to their originalcup-shape after an object has passed inwardly through said end cap toprevent escape of the object from the container, said end cap includinga sidewall skirt depending from said end wall, said sidewall skirt beingshaped to slip over the open end of said tube, said cup-shaped end walland said sidewall skirt being spaced to form an annular groove forfrictionally receiving the open end of said tube.

1. A container for packaging an object, comprising: a tube having atleast one open end; an end cap mounted on the open end of said tube,said end cap having an end wall in the shape of a cup extending inwardlyof said tube and a sidewall skirt depending from said end wall, saidskirt being shaped to slip over the tube, an annular groove locatedbetween said skirt and said end wall for frictionally receiving the endof said tube, said end wall being divided into a plurality of resilienttriangular segments separated by radial slits which meet in the centerof said end wall, said triangular segments tapering in thickness towardthe center of the end wall and being deflectable inwardly of thecontainer to allow an object to be inserted through the end wall intothe container, said triangular segments being biased to resilientlyreturn to their original position after an object has passed into thecontainer through said cap to prevent escape of the object from thecontainer said triangular segments including a central radial rib whichincreases in height from the surface of the tapered segments in directproportion to the reduction in thickness of the segments to maintain aconstant thickness of material along the radial center portion of saidsegments.
 2. The container as recited in claim 1 wherein: saiddeflectable triangular segments terminate short of the center of saidcup to form a central aperture.
 3. The container as recited in claim 1wherein: said end cap is formed as a single piece from molded plastic.4. A container for packaging an object, comprising: a tube having atleast one open end; an end cap mounted on the open end of said tube,said end cap being formed as a single piece from molded plastic andhaving an end wall in the shape of a cup, extending inwardly of saidtube, said end wall being divided into a plurality of deflectableresilient triangular segments by radial slits, said triangular segmentstapering in thickness toward the bottom of the cup and each of saidtriangular segments including a central radial rib which increases inheight from the surface of said triangular segment in direct proportionto the reduction in thickness of said triangular segments to maintain aconstant thickness of material along the center of said triangularsegments, said triangular segments being deflectable inwardly of thecontainer to allow an object to be inserted through the end wall intothe container, said deflectable triangular segments being biased toresiliently return to their original cup-shape after an object haspassed inwardly through said end cap to prevent escape of the objectfrom the container, said end cap including a sidewall skirt dependingfrom said end wall, said siDewall skirt being shaped to slip over theopen end of said tube, said cup-shaped end wall and said sidewall skirtbeing spaced to form an annular groove for frictionally receiving theopen end of said tube.